5 Best Soldering Flux For Electronics: A Quick Guide Before Buying

Soldering fluxes are really useful for those with an interest in electronics. The purpose of this post is to review the best soldering flux for electronics from some of the leading types of soldering flux products. Soldering is often used in electronics when components or parts need to be bonded together and to remain bounded. Rosin flux soldering is one type of flux used by people working with electronics. Another type of flux commonly used is lead free soldering flux, which is better for the environment as well as the health of whoever uses it.

Below is a review five of the leading flux soldering products presently available to electricians and those that delve into electronics. These products include soldering flux paste and a soldering flux pen. The merits of each product are assessed in turn, to allow potential users to make their own judgement as to the flux that best meets their needs. The value for money and quality of each product is also discussed.

Comparison Table Of 5 Best Soldering Flux For Electronics

++ OUR TOP PICK ++

Rosin Paste Flux #135

This rosin flux paste is supplied in a 2.4 ounce tin, similar in size to an ice hockey puck. The flux does not have to applied with power to the areas, which need to be soldered to each other. This product comes in a handy sized tin and users should get several uses out of it at least. The paste is easy to apply and thus simple to use. It is ideal for use by experienced electricians or those who are new to doing their own electronics. I had no problems when I used it for the first time.

This rosin flux is made so that it can be used with both tin / lead and also the lead free alloys. In that respect it offers more flexibility than the products that can only be used with one, but not both types of alloy. It is widely available and has received hundreds of positive reviews. It represents good value in terms of how well it works and the number of uses per each tin.

Second Best Selection

Mg Chemicals 8341

The second product is a pneumatic dispensing flux designed to be easy to use. This chemical flux is in a syringe and can be injected at the point the soldering has to be done. There are 10 millimeters of the flux in the syringe and it is easy to inject. The chemicals quickly solder things together. The chemicals weigh 0.34 of an ounce, enough to finish most soldering tasks.

This is a single use flux that will get the job done. It is a cleaner, less messy option. People simply use it once and throw the needle away. it is a good product for one off soldering jobs, and easy to buy multiple times if you have more soldering tasks lined up in the future. The syringe is the key as to why the product works, and why people trust it to do a clean job. Personally I believe it is a great idea, the injection system meant it bonded for me and made no mess at all.

Although the cost of this product is relatively high it allows for greater accuracy in applying the flux and you will always be able to bond everything properly using it. When you precision it gives it.

Third Best Selection

Soldering Flux Pen

This rework soldering pen contains 10 millimeters of rosin flux, and it's nib makes it easy to apply the liquid where it needs to go. This pen is handy when rework needs to be done quickly. It is basically a quick fix that allows things to be repaired or put back together without the need to use a soldering iron. The pen is refillable, so you can keep using it, and then buy refills whenever they are needed.

The rosin flux fluid is water based and it can be used with the lead based alloy and the lead free version. The liquid is more effective as the pen allows you to place it precisely. Pens are a low cost option and do for running repairs. It can be used in cars, for computers / IT equipment and telecom devices too. It's refill capability means it is better for the environment. I find the ability to get refills handy and believe it adds value to this pen.

It is a mid price range product that gives greater precision when carrying out repairs or reattaching parts after the previous soldering had come undone.

Fourth Best Selection

Rosin Soldering Flux Paste

This rosin soldering flux paste comes in a 1.8 ounce / 50 gram pack and is made by Delcast. The paste does what it says it will do, allowing you to complete soldering tasks. As it is in a tub you will be able to use it for a maximum of four or five tasks. The paste itself is reliable enough to get the task done, and makes the soldering stay in place over the long term. If you do numerous soldering tasks then it is worth having at least three or four of these tubs to hand. It can be relied to mechanical plus electronics parts together, working with lead or lead free alloys.

Once it has dried the paste makes sure that the solder itself stays in place. With this product on the solder the bond is stronger and will stay in position for as long as needed. It will rub on to the surface that needs soldering or seal what is already bonded even tighter. You do not have to be experienced to use the paste though care may be needed to apply it to smaller areas. The paste is waterproof, which makes it better at bonding. Apply it carefully if you do not want items to look messy.

As it is quick drying if you spill it, or have used too much then wipe away the excess amounts immediately. I found this product works a treat and lasting a few tasks makes it worth every cent. It therefore has a good cost to effectiveness ratio.

Fifth Best Selection

LA CO regular soldering flux paste

The fifth product is marketed as regular soldering flux paste, and it is just the paste with no extra fills or nothing that is not needed. This is what it says it is on the tub, when you buy this paste you get what is expected of such a product. The paste is made to a high standard, so you can be certain that it will be reliable in terms of keeping your electronic parts soldered to each other. Reliability is a feature, which should always be sought, and this flux certainly has it.

It holds the soldered parts in place and helps to keep the particular electronics it is used on in full working order. This regular paste is dependable as opposed to being spectacular, which is often better for getting jobs done without any hassle.

The LA CO is available at a low budget cost, which belies it's effectiveness and makes it sensible for anybody that performs a fair amount of soldering to use this regular paste for the average routine soldering tasks and only buying more specialist pastes for more complex or harder to reach bonding tasks. The tub contains 2 ounces of regular paste, so it could be used for a handful of bonding or soldering jobs. This product can be obtained in hard ware stores as well as online.

A sound product I have in hand for any unexpected soldering tasks I need to carry out.

What To Look For When Purchasing Best Soldering Flux

When buying soldering flux it is better to look for certain qualities. The exact mix of qualities needed will depend on the task being performed.

The flux should be quick drying so that things are bonded together tightly sooner. Quick drying paste will improve the chances of the flux staying in place for longer. The flux could do thing being strong so that the bonding does not come out of place unless you want to change or replace parts of the electronics.

Ideally the flux should be usable with lead / tin based alloys and the lead free ones too. That would mean you only need to buy one flux product for the average soldering job and would only have to consider other types if you have to bond specific materials, or need to be more precise in applying the flux to the surfaces, which need bonding together.

The pneumatic type of flux is probably the better one to use when extra precision is needed. It costs a little extra yet to saves extra work and effort as the task will get done properly the first time.

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How To Use Soldering Flux

The purpose of soldering flux is to make sure that the soldering iron can successfully complete the bonding process. Soldering only works as it should do when oxygen does not reach the parts that will be bonded together. Should the solder, or either side get oxidized then the bonding will not work.

Thus the purpose of using flux is to keep oxygen away from the solder and the items being soldered to each other.

The consistency of the paste or resin is key in making sure that the flux works as designed to. The paste or resin has to be thick enough to block oxygen and allow the bond to set. Once the solder has set then the flux has done it's job. The flux pen is useful when the bonding has come loose and a quick repair is needed.

To assist the soldering the flux covers the areas that are going to be soldered. Generally it is better to put a bit too much flux on surfaces than not enough. If the flux and bonding are out of sight then using too much will not matter at all.

Originally the different kinds of flux only had to work with lead / tin alloys but now most can also be used with the lead free alloys. It is important to have a flux that can be used with both so that you do not have to buy two different types of paste or flux.

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Conclusions

Therefore the differing types of flux can be very useful during the soldering process. All five the reviewed products can certainly aid the completion of soldering jobs. They all have their merits when you are considering, which one to buy, and which ones are capable of doing the job. Depending on how frequently you solder electronics, it might be worthwhile you buying two or more of these items.

If you are simply looking to complete basic tasks then you need to look no further than products 1 or 5, they are of a similar quality, though the latter is lower priced. Both products can be relied upon to do the basics well. Indeed the fifth product represents great value for money, and I always have a supply of it for those unexpected soldering tasks.

On the other hand the other three products can be used when you have to do a little extra to get the job done properly. They may cost a little extra yet it is worth it as the jobs will get done properly.

Over all though if having to pick a single product then 5 would edge it just. However none of the products will break the bank so it is worth buying at least two of the products. All of the fluxes reviewed did the job as intended, with the pen and the pneumatic flux being good for a quick fix or precise bonding and the rest good for general bonding tasks.